Digital ArtLords

The Art of Thanos

The Mad Titan has a distinctive look.
He is big, he is purple and he has quite the chin!
In this post, we explore fan art done by artists that uploaded their art to Artlords as well his most unique looks from all over the Marvel Universe.

The Artlords

Than Man by Johnny MorrowThanos by Cody SchroderThanos by Cody Schroder

These three pieces of fan art were crafted before our favorite Mad Titan became huge in the mainstream perception with Infinity War. Cody Schroder even has the iconic comic book design and is a personal favorite piece. However, there is something interesting about the Thanos character, one that is actually quite rare: Thanos main creator was also, for a time anyway, the main artist that brought Thanos to life.

Jim Starlin’s Thanos

Thanos first appearance

Jim Starlin didn’t create Thanos alone, Mike Friedrich was a co-author of most stories Thanos showed up in the early years. However because we are driven by the visual medium here, let’s explore different eras of Thanos not through the iconic and overall pretty great stories of the “Infinity” saga (Which Starlin doesn’t work in anymore due to some creative differences between Marvel and himself) but through Jim Starlin’s art without filters. Click on the pictures to expand and read more about them.

Personal piece uploaded around 2010 by Jim Starlin himself.

Black and White pencils by Jim Starlin

While the interiors were not penciled by Jim Starlin, the Thanos Quest covers were done by him

While the interiors were not penciled by Jim Starlin, the Thanos Quest covers were done by him

This piece was created to generate funds to help one of Jim Starlin’s friends who got in an accident. Check the notes right bellow the image gallery to reach out and help this industry titan

Early design

Cosmic Brawl

Yes, that’s Death on the left

Black and White

Recent Pencils by Jim Starlin, before he left Marvel

Recent Pencils by Jim Starlin, before he left Marvel

Pencils by Jim Starlin

To view the post about the limited time fundraiser created by Jim Starlin, check out this link.

Now that Infinity War came and went, and with Marvel and Jim Starlin falling out, we might never see him in the character again. It is a good thing though, that his art is as iconic and interesting as it is. No matter the confusion between Marvel and Starlin, his Thanos will forever be part of Pop Culture, all thanks in part to his art writingting prowess.